Draycote Water is continuing in fantastic form this week as many people are taking their bag limits. The fish have really come on in the last couple of weeks and Draycote is now reflecting its known reputation, fantastic nymph fishing! Welsh International angler and current international individual champion Dave Hoppe, described his recent visit here as one of the best days nymph fishing he has ever had! David had up to 20 silvered up rainbows all weighing between 3 & 4lb- All fish were taken on a Flash Attack traffic light Diawl Bach and a Flash Attack Chew favourite Diawl Bach.

The best fish of the week was an 8lb brownie caught by Mr T Hooper. He also returned a rainbow of 6lb! Six other fish this week have been recorded over 6lb, one of which was a personal best for Mr Michael Murphy weighing in at 6lb 2oz. Fourty fish over 4lb have also been recorded this week. Draycote really is in fine form!

The whole lake is producing fish, with the most favoured areas being Rainbow Corner, Toft Shallows, Biggin and Dunns bay, and the Hensbrough Dam. Bank anglers have enjoyed some excellent sport too, predominantly of buzzers. Rainbow Corner and Toft Shallows has been the most productive bank spots.

The rich food source in Draycote is allowing the fish to grow on quick, thus making them pretty powerful once hooked. Many anglers report not being able to stop their fish once hooked, and consequently getting snapped. We do recommend if fishing Draycote you use no less than a 8lb leader, or you to could become the next victim of our nicknamed “Torpedo Trout”!

Weekly rods 186 Number of fish killed 430 Number of fish returned 435 Rod Average 4.6.

If you’d rather win £1000 cash then why not enter our “reservoir rules-anything goes” pairs match on Sunday August 19th. Entry fee is only £25pp. Competition will be from 10am to 6pm. The heaviest pairs bag weight WINS!!!!!!!!!

Access is available to the boat pontoon in the mornings and evenings, and parking is allowed around the lake for bank anglers-designated car parks are highlighted. Remember, if you plan to fish from the bank call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018 to reserve and bank car ticket-30 available. A mobile food unit now operates behind the fishing lodge offering excellent food, and opens from 9am.

This week has again seen some superb fishing at Draycote. The second biggest fish of the year so far has also been caught by Mr T Longstaff – a superb 8lb brownie. 25 fish over 4lb have also been recorded. The fish have at times been on, or very near to the surface, and anglers using dries or pulled wets have had some great sport. Buzzers and Diawl Bachs have led the way for the majority of fish, with floating lines and midge tips being the favoured lines. Some fish have however been feeding deeper, as they have been mopping up daphnia. Ron Wilson netted an 8 fish limit for 34lb, targeting the daphnia feeders by using a rudder to get the consistency with the depth.

Sunday 1st of July was the first competition for this year on Draycote, the Rio Challenge boat pairs match. 46 anglers caught 231 fish, giving a rod average of 5. A fresh SW wind sent most people into Rainbow Corner, sheltering from the breeze, with only two boats choosing to start towards Toft Shallows. Ben Bayliss and Alistair Beaumont stopped at the Farborough Spit and were soon into fish pulling orange blobs, with 7 in the boat just after the first hour of the match starting. Rainbow Corner got off to a slightly slower start, with Ed Foster and Ian Barr appearing to lead the way with 8 fish between them before lunch time. As the cloud appeared into the early afternoon, the catch rate appeared to increase, as many boats were now into double figures.

Match results, with the top 10 winning a prize.

Ben Bayliss – Alistair Beaumont 16 fish 59lb 11oz

Ed Foster – Iain Barr – 16 fish 57lb 10oz

Sean Cutting – Guido Vinct 16 fish 55lb

Lyndsey Barrie – Dave Doherty 54lb 1oz

Joan Russell – Patrick -de- schutter 16 fish 51lb 3oz

Paul Morris – Alun Williams 16 fish 49lb 13oz

John & Julie Emerson 16 fish 49lb 8oz

Garry Morris – Lloyd Pallet 16 fish 48lb 1oz

Bill Pugh – Lee Williams 16 fish 46lb 15oz

Graham Pearson & Julian Hubbard 13 fish 42lb 9oz

The winning tactics used was blobs pulled on a sinking line at Farborough Spit. The bung was the winning method for 2nd place in Rainbow Corner, with a mixture of the midge tip and floating lines and nymphs taking the vast majority of fish throughout the day.

Weeks total of fish caught 1168 fish released 485 Total number of rod 275 Rod average 4.2

The Lexus individual heat is our next event to be held on Draycote – this is fished to International rules and will be held on Friday 10th of August. To book please go to Lexus Fly Fishing Championships | The UK’s No.1 Friendly Fly Fishing Event

The next in-house is to be held on Sunday 19th of August. A boat pairs match, fished to fishery rules, with the winners walking away with £1000. To enter please call the fishing lodge on 01788812018. Entry fee is £25pp

If you are planning to bank fish Draycote please call the fishing lodge to book one of 30 bank car passes- these are available upon receipt of your permit at the fishing lodge.

Car Access is also available to the pontoon when fishing from a boat, however this is restricted up to 10am in the mornings and after 5pm in the evenings. The car park is only a short walk from the pontoon. Disable access is available at all times.

Yet again we have experienced more unseasonal weather for the month of June. Despite this, the reservoir has still on average performed very well. Mr B Parry and P wood recorded 18 fish between them with the biggest weighing 6lb, all taken on Diawl Bachs . Mr J Dempsey landed 8 fish for 24lb, Keith Harding took 7 fish on dries, the best a 5lb rainbow. Ron Wilson weighed the best bag for the week, 8 fish for 31lb. All were taken fishing with a rudder drifting past the Farborough Spit.

The fish are now very much near the surface and are feeding well on the surface on the calmer evenings. 3 staff members went out for a couple of hours in the week and landed 12 fish between them, many on dries. Most of the fish were over 3lb, with the best weighing 4.8lb. All fish were bars of silver!

The bank is also fishing well. Fraser Duffy visited for the last four hours and caught 7 fish from Rainbow Corner on buzzers, whilst Lee Pattern came for a days fishing on Sunday and landed over 15 fish from various points around the lake. Lee was fishing a floating line with a Fab blob on the point and 3 size 12 Diawl Bachs behind it.

The water clarity is good, and the water levels continues to rise. Sedge hatches are now frequent in the evenings and the fish are responding well to them. Fish are now seen all over the lake on calmer days with many feeding on the heavy blooms of Daphia apparent in the water. The rising fish are responding well to dries, hoppers, CDC’S and bits, however reports of very exciting fishing are frequent with anglers pulling boobies or foam arsed blobs across the surface, causing the fish to bow wave after them! Early fully finned stock fish are now appearing in big numbers, giving strong fights once hooked, with many people still getting snapped off as they struggle to hold on!

This coming Sunday sees the RIO CHALLENGE boat pairs competition, fished to International rules (you will fish with your chosen partner) With the lake in rich form it promises to be a good competition. If you fancy a go at winning £1000 worth of Rio/Redington tackle there are 2 boats still available!! To book please call Craig Barr on 01788 812018. Prizes will run to 10th place.

Vehicle access to the pontoon is available first thing in the morning and after 5pm in the evenings to load and unload your cars before and after a days fishing. Access is also available around the lake perimeter for anglers only, however is restricted to 30 cars. A vehicle pass is required if fishing from the bank so please call the fishing lodge before your trip to secure one of the 30 allocated tickets.

Total number of rods 208 Fish Killed 337 Fish Returned 503 Rod average 4.

Up and coming events-

– Lexus Individual Heat Friday 10th August – Entry can be made via the fishing lodge or enter on line at www.lexusflyfishing.co.uk

The fishing at Draycote has gone from strength to strength over the recent weeks as more settled weather has taken hold, albeit the occasional day of torrential rain and strong winds has been thrown in for good measure. The fish are now very much near the surface, and all throughout the lake, although at times on sunnier days the fish will drop lower in the water.

Quality grown on fish are showing every day and being caught too! Over 50 fish over 4lb were recorded this week, 23 over 5lb, and 4 fish over 7lb, with the week’s biggest fish weighing in 7lb 10oz, caught by Mr F De Franco on a buzzer. Reports of bigger fish being lost seem to be happening daily!! Many people are reporting frequently being snapped – with the quality of fish here at Draycote water, we recommend a nylon strength of no less than 8lb breaking strain.

Yearly visitors from Ireand, Ronan and his colleagues have had some awesome sport during their five day visit. Sunday 18th they had fantastic bags of fish on dries into the evening. One of the group had 6 fish, 4 were over 4lb and the remaining 2 were over 5lb. All the fish fell to bobs bits and a size 14 shuttlecock. They have had in excess of 40 fish between them every day bar one!!

The unusually cooler water for this time of the year has kept the fish closer to the margins than normal allowing bank anglers to have some fantastic sport. John Dews and Anthony Broadway both had a fantastic day landing double limits between them on buzzers, the biggest weighing 5lb 4oz. Grown on fish are at times feeding close to the margins on flooded ground taking buzzer pupae and small snails.

Water levels are still rising, and the water clarity remains excellent. The fish are now well spread throughout the lake with the potential of catching a fish anywhere you choose to fish. The continuous weekly stocking is keeping a good head of fish in the lake, and with the warmer weather and more settled conditions, earlier stocked fish and last seasons overwintered fish catches are becoming the norm, with many fish over 4lb coming in daily!

Sunday 1st of July sees the Rio Boat pairs competition held at Draycote. There are now just 3 boats remaining! Fished to International rules, although you WILL fish with your chosen partner. First prize will win in excess of £1000 Rio/Redington tackle and 2nd Prize will win in excess of £800 worth of Tackle – prizes will be awarded to 10th place. Entry fee is £23pp + usual fishing costs of £37pp. To book one of the remaining boats please call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018.

Sunday August 19th is the first of 2 £1000 cash prize boat pairs matches. Fished to fishery rules, with the exception of the rudder (1st match only). Entry fee £25pp plus fishing costs. To book a place call Craig Barr on 01788 812018. Prizes will go to 3rd place.

Number of fish caught 1,118
Fish released 790
Total Rods 244
Fish average 4.6

Free car parking for all visiting anglers (limited to 30 cars on the bank, and 30 cars for boat anglers)
Bank anglers are permitted to drive around the lake, with the only restrictive bank fishing areas being the big dams.

Bank anglers may take their cars around the reservoir, limited to 30 cars at any one time – call the lodge to book one of the 30 available car bank passes.

The remaining weekends are busy for boats so if you are planning a day’s boat fishing it is recommended you book early.

Some excellent fishing continuing at Draycote but with methods as various as the weather conditions and wind direction.

Buzzer tactics have remained the favoured, and perhaps most effective method currently, together with slow retrieved Crunchers & Diawl Bachs.

Fish have also been coming to dries periodically, with evidence of fly hatches being clearly given away by the presence of swallows & martins – often in large numbers.

Lure anglers have also found significant fish in both size, condition and numbers with most reporting fish located in the upper levels of the water column. Winds have been variable all week and, at times, extreme, so best areas have been difficult to predict.

Some fantastic angler feedback has been received during the week. Tosh Storrar’s 2 boat party recorded 39 fish over their 3 day break describing it as “A great week again – will be back from Scotland next year”. The Whittackers reported a 20 fish boat catch with rainbows to four and a half pounds commenting “Fantastic fishing”.
R.Wilson’s eight fish limit from the boat included a four and a half pounds Brownie whilst Bob Smith caught seven to 5lbs from the bank on buzzers.
Several rainbows in the 6lbs class have come to the net this week from boat and bank with one visiting angler reporting on their fighting qualities as “maniac fish!”

There are a few remaining places for the RIO CHALLENGE boat pairs match on SUNDAY 1ST JULY. The winners will win in excess of £1000 of Rio & Redington tackle and 2nd place will win in excess of £800 worth of Rio & Redington tackle. There will be prizes upto 10th place. To book one of the last remaining boats call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018. Entry fee is £23pp +normal fishing costs.

Free car parking for all visiting anglers(limited to 30 cars on the bank, and 30 cars for boat anglers)
Bank anglers are permitted to drive around the lake, with the only restrictive bank fishing areas being the big dams.

Draycote this week has produced some excellent fishing, on varied methods from blobs, buzzers and even dries ! With a list of names to big to mention, many anglers have recorded catches well into double figures. Clive Wilkins, A black, C Henderson, S clark, W Brown, G burnett and more all landed in excess of 16 fish. 30 fish over 5lb were recorded for the week, and Mr Greatbatch recorded the biggest fish of the week, a superb fish of 7lb 2oz. Four other fish over 6lb were also recorded.

The long awaited buzzer fishing, which Draycote is renowned for, started in earnest this week as fish began gorging themselves on small green buzzers. Mr Conway recorded 8 fish for 29lb, with many of them “Stuffed to the gills with small green buzzers!” He fished from an anchored boat in Toft Shallows.

The weather continues to be changeable, following last week’s heat wave, however the previous warm spell appears to have got things going. Blobs on a fast glass line and Di-3 line, have also shared the spoils, with one boat taking their 16 fish limit near the tower using Fab blobs on a fast glass. One angler recorded in an evening session (3rd June) 22 fish to the boat, using an orange blob, fishing in Rainbow Corner.

Four visiting anglers from Cornwall recorded over 74 fish to the boat between them in one day. A good number of fish were taken on buzzers, and then when the evening came they switched to dry flies, and proceeded to catch over 20 fish.

The whole lake is producing fish, with the hot spots being Toft Shallows, Rainbow Corner and drifting from the middle of the lake towards the tower. Buzzers have been top of the menu, as small as size 14’s. Olive and black have been the best colours. Red and green holographic Diawl Bachs and the Traffic Light Diawl Bach have also taken a good number of fish. If you prefer sinking lines, or the weather dictates this method, then Fab tequila blobs, orange blobs, woofter boobies and cats whisker boobies have all worked well.

There are a few remaining places for the RIO CHALLENGE boat pairs match on SUNDAY 1ST JULY. The winners will win in excess of £1000 of Rio & Redington tackle and 2nd place will win in excess of £800 worth of Rio & Redington tackle. There will be prizes upto 10th place. To book one of the last remaining boats call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018. Entry fee is £23pp +normal fishing costs.

Fished to International rules, however you will fish with your chosen boat partner.

Number of fish caught 365 Number of fish released 942 Number of rods fished 252 Rod Av 5.18

Bank fishing commences at 7.30 and finishes at 10.oopm
Boat fishing commences at 8.30 and finished currently at 9.45pm

Collecting and unloading of kit is permitted between 7.00am and 10.00am and 5.30pm 10.00pm at the fishing pontoon. Further information please contact the lodge

Free car parking for all visiting anglers(limited to 30 cars on the bank, and 30 cars for boat anglers)
Bank anglers are permitted to drive around the lake, with the only restrictive bank fishing areas being the two big dams.

This week has been pretty hot to say the least – The recent cold water that has continually been pumped in has kept the water temperature down and the fishing has still remained good, although when the sun has been at its hottest during the day things have slowed down a touch.

The major clubs league match was held at Draycote this week with 5 teams of 6 competing. The total catch was 189 fish with a rod average of 6.3. Foremark fly fishers also had a match with their rod average being 3. Dixie Baxter took 8 fish for 26lb with the biggest weighing 5lb 11.

Fish have been caught on various methods and lines at the moment. John Kelly from Scotland landed 15 fish with the biggest weighing in at 7lb, whilst another party member also landed 15 trout with his biggest weighing 6lb. The majority of these fish were taken on black buzzers and Diawl Bachs. Mr A sandford and Mr G Wilson had a bonanza landing over 20 fish each, with Mr Wilson’s 4 fish weighing a nice 24lb !!

The fish have at times gone deep, mainly due to the sultry weather. The mornings have fished well, as have the evenings, with sinking lines doing best during the strong sun light hours between 12 and 3pm. Black and green lure continue to do well as do blobs and boobies, however black buzzers, Dialwl Bachs and crunchers have also taken there fair share of fish.

All areas of the 600 acre lake are now producing fish, with Rainbow Corner and Toft Shallows being the slightly better spots at the moment.

There are a few boats remaining for the Rio Pairs match on Sunday July the 1st. This match is fished to International rules however you are allowed to fish with your boat partner. Entry fee is £23 + your fishing fees. To book a place call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018. All welcome !

Number of fish killed 739 Number of fish released 613 Number of rods 285 Rod average 5.9

Cars are limited to 30 around the water, so if you are planning to bank fish please call the fishing lodge to reserve a bank pass.

Bank fishing commences at 7.30 and finishes at 10pm.
Boat fishing commences at 8.30 and finishes at 9.45pm

Draycote Water is now showing the form everyone has been craving for. The bigger fish from last year have hidden well since we opened, however they are now coming out almost daily. Every day this week fish over 5lb have been recorded, with the biggest a massive 9lb 9oz brown trout, caught by Phil Saddler, whilst fishing from the boat in Rainbow Corner. There have been frequent reports from anglers of big fish coming short at the boat. England International and world team member Phil Dixon said “you should have seen the size of some of the fish I rose drifting onto A buoy” Phil was fishing a DI-7 line and a tube.

Mr J Worley recorded the best rainbow for the week, a nice 6.5lb fish, whilst Mr A Sutherland recorded the best bag for the week, 4 fish weighing an impressive 20lb 8oz! Water levels have increased steadily and the levels are now around 75% capacity. The water clarity has however remained excellent, although the water temperature has dropped slightly. This has had very little effect on the buzzer hatches and certainly not put the swallows and swifts off as they have been on the water in there hundreds.

The warmer parts of the day have seem some excellent surface action from the fish, however catching them has proven not quite so easy. Buzzers fished on a long leader has been fantastic from the boats, although on windier days shelter has been needed to assist with this method. Less windy days and drifts 2-3oo yards out have proven very fruitful, with some of last years bigger fishing sticking their noses out! Di-5 and blobs and boobies have worked very well too, with many bag limits taken this way this week. All areas have fished well, however Rainbow Corner and Dunns Bay have frequently popped up on the radar as the places to fish, more so as bigger fish appear to be present in these areas.

Bank anglers have had some brilliant sport too, with buzzers drifting in a cross wind taking most fish. Fish are seen moving throughout the day, and despite the rising water, the fish haven’t ventured too far out either, helped by the cooler water temperatures.

With warmer weather finally hitting our shores later this week, I am sure this could be the turning point we are all waiting for to properly kick start our seasons, and have those floating lines on on a more consistent basis!

Our first boat pairs match is fast approaching, and we still have some places left. Fished to International rules, the Rio Challenge pairs competition on Sunday July 1st, allows you to fish with your chosen partner. Entry fee is £23 + you fishing costs for the day. 1st prize pair will win in excess of £1000 worth of Rio tackle, and 2nd prize will win £800 worth of Rio tackle. Prizes will run to 10th place! To book your place please call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018 and ask for Craig Barr, the competition organiser.

To book a car pass for bank fishing please call the fishing lodge 01788 812018.
Car parking is FREE for bank and boat anglers.

Bank fishing commences at 7.30 and finishes at 9.30. All anglers are to be off site by 9.50pm
Boat fishing commences at 8.30am and finishes at 9.15pm – (Fish gutting and tackle shop facilities are available on site).

During the warmer settled days the prolific buzzer hatches Draycote is renowned for have not let us down with buzzer fishing on these days being excellent. But the changeable weather and air temperature has dictated that anglers need to be prepared to alter their fishing as the conditions change with some days or part of days fishing best to the buzzer and then changing to pulling lures producing the best catches. Anglers are using floaters, midge tip & DI5 lines to adapt to the changeable weather.

For the bank angler Lin Croft point & Rainbow Corner has by far being the most productive areas with boats catching in Toft, Lin Croft, Cornfield with anglers drifting across the main basin generally picking up the better trout.

Coppenhall Fly Fishers had an enjoyable day with 29 rods catching 174 trout for a rod average 6.0 Leicestershire Police also visited the fishery during the week with Andy Ross as part of his catch recording fish of 7lb & 5lb.

A group of Norwegian anglers took advantage of our three day package catching well into double figures including fish to 6lb.

Two Scottish anglers R. Gardiner caught 12 trout to 4lb & boat partner W. Milligan 8 fish to 4lb leaving a comment in the return book “Heaven on Earth, Brilliant Fishery” were sure they will do the long journey to fish with us again.

Bank angler T. Riches fished a diawl bach taking fish up to 5lb.

Bank anglers are permitted to take their vehicles around the perimeter road but we are limited to 30 cars at any one time, we recommend you call the lodge & book one of the 30 car passes.

Draycote onsite tackle shop is open; we have an excellent selection of Vision clothing-rods-lines-reels-fly lines, Wychwood reels, Redington Rods-reels & Rio Lines. Craig also has a good selection of his popular Flashattack flies. We also for the angler who likes Salmon fishing a selection of Vision Salmon rods.

This week has seen a remarkable change in fortunes for Draycote. For the first time in almost a fortnight we have had a consistent wind direction, albeit a Northerly one for at least 4 days and this, combined with lighter winds has improved the fishing. Swifts and swallows have also been here in large numbers feeding on the lakes surface from dawn till dusk. The birds feeding hard on the water all day can be no coincidence with the increase in rod catches. The more relatively settled weather has bought the buzzers out in there thousands and at times the entire lake surface has been littered with them.

Mr P Hill recorded a fish of 7lb 5oz, and Scottish visiting angler J Mcgregor also landed a brown and returned it, estimating 7.5lb, whilst another member of the party, Wullie Munn also returned a brown of around 6.5lb.. Mr A Ross took the biggest fish of the week, a cracking 8lb rainbow from the sailing club bank, fished from a boat. The fish fell to a green buzzer

Bank anglers have had a good week with many areas of the lake now yielding good fish. Regular angler Tony Broadway got well into double figures fishing off the Hensbrough dam using a floating line and buzzers. Gordon Slack also landed 15 fish from the bank on buzzers whilst fishing Biggin Bay.

Bank anglers have done best using floating lines with a blue flash damsel on the point and a team of buzzers. The best areas have been Biggin Bay, The Hensbrough Dam, Rainbow Corner, Lincroft Point and the Swans nest.
Boat anglers have enjoyed fish from all areas of the lake. The more noticeable areas have been along the cornfileds, the lodge frontage to the sailing club, Biggin Bay, drifting onto the draw off tower, and anglers using the rudder have had some big bags drifting through the middle of the lake.

With the lake being stocked on a weekly basis the lake now has a good head of fish, and with some more settled weather it is sure to be in top form. If you are planning a day at Draycote in May from a boat it would be wise to book early. Combined with competitions and big group bookings May is already looking very busy, not to mention world class buzzer fishing, weather pending of course!

Total number of rods 175
Total of fish killed 382
Total of fish released 559
Rod average 5.3

To book a boat please call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018. Bank car passes of which we have 30 available giving bank anglers car access to the reservoir perimeter road, these 30 car passes are available on the same number.

July the 1st is the first prize competition on Draycote. Sponsored by Rio the winners will win in excess of £1000 of tackle. Prizes will go down to 10th place. The match will be fished to International rules, however you will fish with your chosen partner. Entry fee only £23 + days fishing costs. To book please call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018 and ask for Craig.

August 19th and October 14th are the the dates for the £1000 pairs competition, fished to reservoir rules. Entry fee £25. To book call the fishing lodge on 01788 812018.